Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson was born on 22 February 1928, and rose to fame in the 1950s series Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He enjoyed a career that spanned over seven decades to become the longest-serving male entertainer in television history.

British entertainer and television presenter Bruce Forsyth sitting on a beach in October, 1958Reg Speller/ Fox Photos/ Getty Images

Television presenter and entertainer Bruce Forsyth, getting ready in his dressing room, London on 21 April 1964Les Lee/Getty Images

American actor Douglas Fairbanks Junior (1909 - 2000) with British entertainer Bruce Forsyth before an appearance on the Bruce Forsyth Show on 8 August 1966William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images

13 May 1975: British model Twiggy with entertainer Bruce Forsyth who won the Schweppes Award for Show BusinessCentral Press/Getty Images

10 September 1980: Popular British entertainer Bruce Forsyth, with singer and dancer Sammy Davis Jnr, who will be appearing together on a special one hour spectacular at the South Bank London Weekend Television Centre in LondonMike Stephens/Central Press/Getty Images5th March 1981: Television personalities Bruce Forsyth (L), Frankie Howerd and Jimmy Hill together during a Variety Club dinner in honour of Frankie Howerd's showbiz anniversary and birthdaySimon Dack/Keystone/Getty ImagesJimmy Tarbuck and Bruce Forsyth enter the festive spirit prior to their roles in ITV's 1970 Christmas programmingMike Lawn/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Entertainer Bruce Forsyth with his three daughters and a toy duck, 1964Evening Standard/Getty Images

Portrait of entertainer Bruce Forsyth and his girlfriend Anthea Redfern, both presenters of the BBC television show 'The Generation Game'Frank Barratt/Getty Images4 August 1984 British: television presenter Bruce Forsyth with his wife Wilnelia at Heathrow Airport in London, EnglandDavid Parker/Getty ImagesBritish TV entertainer Bruce Forsyth (R) and his wife Wilnelia Merced arrive for a Best of Creative reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in central London on 30 June 2014Niklas Halle'n/AFPSir Bruce Forsyth poses after he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on October 12, 2011 in London, EnglandJohn Stillwell - WPA/Getty Images5 December 2003: TV presenter Bruce Forsyth does one of his famous poses in Sanya, ChinaGetty Images5 September 2005: Bruce Forsyth poses with the award for 'Best Entertainment Show' for Strictly Come Dancing at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, LondonMJ Kim/Getty Images

26 July 2012: Presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth sets off with the Olympic Torch from BBC White City on the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay in LondonWill Oliver/AFP

TV presenter Bruce Forsyth and Marike Le Roux walk the runway at Fashion For Relief at Forville market during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on 16 May 2011:Ian Gavan/Getty Images16 June 2011: Bruce Forsyth and his wife Wilnelia arrive for Ladies' Day at Royal AscotSuzanne Plunkett/Reuters

30 June 2013 Bruce Forsyth performs in the Avalon tent at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts site at Worthy Farm, Pilton near GlastonburyMatt Cardy/Getty Images

British entertainer Bruce Forsyth (L) shows British Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah his trademark pose, on Centre Court at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, London on 26 June 2013

Bruce Forsyth attends the premiere for 'Nat King Cole: Afraid Of the Dark' at The Mayfair Hotel in London on 13 May 2014Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Presenter Bruce Forsyth and his wife Merced Wilnelia attend day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England on 17 June 2014Kirstin Sinclair/Getty ImagesBritish TV entertainer Bruce Forsyth (R) and his wife Wilnelia Merced arrive for a Best of Creative reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in central London on 30 June 2014Niklas Halle'n/AFP

The entertainer – who presented shows including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right and You Bet! – had struggled with health problems in a recent months and was admitted into hospital with a severe chest infection earlier this year. In 2014 he stepped down from presenting Strictly Come Dancing, after 10 years hosting the programme. Paying tribute to Forsyth, BBC director general Sir Tony Hall described him as "one of the greatest entertainers our country has ever known".

"He has delighted millions of people and defined Saturday night television for decades, with shows like the Generation Game and, most recently, Strictly," he said in a statement. "His warmth and his wit were legendary. I've never seen anyone quite like him when it comes to performing in front of a crowd. He had a remarkable chemistry with his audience - that's what made him such an amazing professional and why he was so loved. He has been part of all of our lives, and we'll miss him dearly."